Building foundations 2012 for stronger communities Community foundations contribute to the for the future community foundations in transformation of local communities, so Oradea, Prahova, Bacău and Țara they can reach their development Făgărașului were also launched. potential, based on the opportunities, the resources and the ideals of their Two regional funds are also established inhabitants. They help build dynamic, based on local leadership: in Cristuru connected and supportive communities, Secuiesc, hosted by Odorheiu Secuiesc with a higher living standard. Community Foundations and in Reghin, hosted by Mureș Community Foundation. Community foundations are local organizations; they support philanthropy, The Romanian Community Foundations encourage the community spirit and offer Federation was created in 2012, as a financial support to projects from various representation platform for community areas – education, culture, environment foundation, supporting the development protection, and youth development. of philanthropy at a national level. Community foundations build funds, This report presents the framework, starting from the philanthropic interests of participants and results of a national donors, which they channel back towards support program to help develop communities as grants and scholarships. At community foundations in Romania. The the same time, they also support non- program was initiated by Association of profit organizations, initiative groups and Community Relations (ARC) and had two individuals and take leadership in building main stages so far: 2006-2008 and 2009- dialogue and cooperation platforms to 2012. address community needs or opportunities. The current stage of the program has been implemented in cooperation with The first community foundations were Romanian Environmental Partnership established in Romania five years ago in Foundation and PACT Foundation and is Cluj and Odorheiu Secuiesc. There were six supported by C.S. Mott Foundaition, Trust active community foundations at the end for Civil Society in Central and Eastern of 2011: two were established in 2010 in Europe and Romanian-American Alba and Covasna, and another two in Foundation. 2011, in Bucharest and Târgu Mureș. The community foundations from Iași and Sibiu The program benefitted from the expertise joined them in 2012, when the initiatives and participation of existing community foundations. Starting with 2012, the Romanian Federation of Community Foundations also became a strategic partner. Table of Contents
Table of Contents 1
Introduction Building foundations for stronger communities 2
Community Foundations 6 Alba Community Foundation 7 Bucharest Community Foundation 8 Cluj Community Foundation 10 Covasna Community Foundation 12 Iași Community Foundation 14 Mureș Community Foundation 16 Odorheiu Secuiesc Community Foundation 17 Sibiu Community Foundation 19
Community Foundations Initiative Groups 20 Bacău 21 Oradea 21 Prahova 22 Țara Făgărașului 22
National Program for Development of Community Foundations 23
Program Partners and Supporters 25
1 Building foundations 2012 for stronger communities
8. A feeling of success can be achieved through this action and preserved when challenges and setbacks emerge. people in Romania have access 4,907,000 to a community foundation 9. The results of community work emerge (24% of the population) in a reasonable time and can be seen and felt by participants and contributors alike.
awareded as grants for local 10. These results are recognized as a shared $213,031 community initatives effort. and scholarships What are those key ingredients that build How can Romanian communities activate strong roots in a community and keep it and strengthen their potential? What inspired and flexible so it can move, shake supporters of community creates a strong community? foundations' activities, mainly Below, I offer ten possible answers: and follow its ideals, so it does not become 28,000 community card users in Covasna stuck in complaints and is capable to shape and Odorheiu Secuiesc and sport 1. The community is willing and capable to its own better future? events supporters and donors invest in its own future. It is difficult for me to choose one 2. It can identify and put to use their assets: important answer out of the ten volunteers directily involved human, financial, material, knowledge. possibilities offered above; probably the reality of community building is influenced 936 through community foundations 3. Leadership/initiative for improving in local, community initiatives by all these factors together with collaboratively the local situation or of a motivated, creative and resilient leaders specific problem that may arise. who want to build a long-term grants given in community by infrastructure of support for community 205 4. Once this initiative exists, it receives community foundations continuous support for its development action and philanthropy. through locally supportive networks, I am deeply grateful that in the Romanian financial resources or promotion of the 96 scholarships awarded by community foundation movement I have community foundations initiative. the privilege of working with so many 5. The community can deal creatively and energetic, creative and motivated leaders; 8 active community foundations constructively with internal diversity and with those who want to and do build a difference. foundation for their community. 4 community foundations 6. Enough trust exists so that community initiative groups members make an initial investment into Community foundations an idea or a plan. movement in 2012 2 new community foundations 7. Community members have enough trust Together with these local leaders, in 2012 and determination to work through with alone, we have set the basis for doubling 2 regional funds in others the details of partnership, teamwork the number of communities in which this Cristuru Secuiesc and Reghin and collaboration. infrastructure for local action and
2 philanthropy exists in Romania. If at the Sibiu, while four more were progressing in Revitalization Fund - and Odorheiu beginning of the year there were six promoting the initiative, engaging local Secuiesc – Urban Volunteering Fund. community foundations, we ended the stakeholders and gathering ideas and Specific areas are also supported by year with eight community foundations resources for the development of their Covasna Community Foundation through and four more initiative groups in local community. “Be Active for Covasna”, “More than a Spot advanced stages. on the Map” or sports equipment fund. Key areas in which community At the beginning of 2012, there were six How do community foundations foundations offer grants in their community foundations: Cluj and help build their community? community include (in the order of value Odorheiu Secuiesc were four years old, of support): renovation of Alba and Covasna a little over one year, public/community spaces, education, Bucharest and Mureș were just starting Philanthropic (named) funds culture and arts, civic participation, sports, their activity. social inclusion, environment, health and A specific way in which community minorities. A very clear development in 2012 relates foundations build their local community to new community foundations. Based on are the grant-making funds. Community the success in the previous years and foundations encourage local philanthropy Community engagement increased interest from local communities, by stimulating the contributions of in raising fun we have started support for new initiative individuals and companies to causes that Another specific way of building local groups from seven communities who are important to them and to their local community is through supporting wanted to build their own foundation. community through named funds. In this community engagement in raising funds These initiative groups were then report, you will learn more about for causes that are important to them. supported to learn more from the innovative individual and family based Currently there are two highly successful experience of existing community funds created in Bucharest from a recently mechanisms used by several community foundations, and five of them successfully married couple, from a six year old girl and foundations. Swimathon has been managed to activate the local interest and from an entrepreneur. Or you might introduced by Cluj Community resources in Bacău, Oradea, Prahova, Sibiu explore the impact of several company Foundation in 2009 as a platform for and Țara Făgărașului. Iași initiative group named funds in Cluj – Electrogrup and engaging people who care about local carried a strong resource raising campaign Ursus or the grant-making part of “U Cluj” causes and NGOs to become active at the beginning of the year under the a local football team fund started in the fundraisers for these causes in the slogan 'Out of love for Iași' and previous year. successfully involved community framework of a sports event. Hundreds of supporters and finalized its building fundraisers-swimmers invite their friends process. Field-based funds to contribute to a cause based on their swimming performance. This framework At the end of 2012, two new community Issue-based funds allow multiple donors was adapted to other multi-cause events, foundations were registered in Iași and to contribute to a cause that interests including half-marathon in Sibiu and bike- them or are based on proactive a-thon in Covasna and several community fundraising efforts of the community foundations successfully organized foundations. Youth-based funds are the Swimathons. In 2012, $63,598 were raised oldest and most distributed type of funds through such events. in the community foundations movement. During 2012, community foundations Another successful framework engages supported 44 youth-led initiatives with the public to support local causes by using grants totaling $34,656, involving 73 the 'community card' when shopping – volunteer youth grant-makers and 215 this way they both benefit from savings, young people as project leaders. Other while local businesses where the card is issue-based funds are focused on being used donate 1% of the value of the provision of scholarships in Iași or Cluj or purchases. Card users are then invited to stimulate urban renovations in Iași – vote on the projects or causes that they
3 want to be supported. This mechanism in the development of the community started in Odorheiu Secuiesc and is now foundations movement between successfully implemented in Covasna and community foundations and national Why the starting implementation in Mureș. This support actors has been defined late in Romanian- mechanism is also supportive in building 2011. The concept of Federation of American trust between local businesses, citizens Community Foundations in Romania has Foundation is and NGOs and contributes to sustainable been also prepared in 2011 by the first four involved in sources of support for local projects. In community foundations. The Federation supporting the became legally established early 2012 and 2012, the community card generated community $53,395. built its strategy together with the recently established community foundations and foundations? national partners. The Federation aims to Community leadership represent nationally the member Because we believe that if we have stronger communities, we will have Another way community foundations community foundations, to develop further build their local communities is by the local strategic philanthropy and to a better Romania! engaging in active promotion of key needs contribute to a socially responsible society. or opportunities and playing an active role Roxana Vitan, A key moment in the national sharing of Executive Director, Romanian-American in building dialogue and collaboration experience and building of movement was Foundation, Program Donor frameworks for addressing these needs. also the national conference of community Examples in this direction include Mureș foundations organized in October 2012 in Community Foundation's involvement in Cluj Napoca. The conference created a developing an urban mobility strategy, framework for interesting dialogue on Cluj Community Foundation' s grantmaking, fundraising and philanthropic involvement with civil society cooperation counseling, governance and community frameworks for Cluj European Youth impact and benefitted from the energy and I would be happy Capital 2015 and European Capital of creative ideas of the youth grant-makers. Culture 2021 or initiatives in the field of to see many more infrastructure for excellence in education All these steps created the space for such community through IQ Iași and Edu+ in Reghin, Mureș, reflection on how far we got by the end of foundations in the which provide young people with the year and what are key areas where we future, the first step increased opportunities for study and want to invest for the future development of would be to have building locally supportive networks. the community foundations movement. one such These will be the main themes of a program community evaluation and a strategic planning, which foundation, that is viable, Building a community of took place early 2013. Presenting more on functional, active, and vibrant, in foundations its results will be the theme of 2013 annual each big community – and then, Above we looked mostly at the local role of report. why not, expansion in smaller the community foundations, but we could communities as well. In the meanwhile, we wish lots of creativity already see instances in which local and success to all community foundations, practices developed in one community Marius Ghenea, initiative groups, grantees, supporters and benefitted other communities through the Entrepreneur, Business Angel, National Program donors! networking and exchange between Advisory Board Member community foundations. Stimulating network building, sharing of experience and dialogue between community foundations has been a key Alina Porumb Community Foundations Program Director feature of the support program since its Association for Community Relations start-up. A plan for sharing responsibility
4 I see they are people who not only want to grow and help Romania is in a themselves, but they want to help and provide support for period of others to do the same. profound change, economically and Ruxandra Sasu, socially. Both PACT Foundation executive director businesses and individuals are cutting costs and prioritizing to core investments. Steps such as the launch of Direct Debit and SMS donations systems are building both donation mechanisms and the You build, you feel that indeed you give back to your standards nonprofits need to community, even more, you also build sustainable comply with, in order to raise institutions, starting from a different set of principles awareness and trust among the compared to other organizations, because it tries to change general population. The network of the community itself. community foundations may play an important role in terms of Peter Barta, developing the spirit of involvement Executive Director, at the local level, via fundraising, Post-Privatization Foundation, National Program Advisory Board Member fund development and philanthropic counseling. Community foundations have a unique positioning, that of catalysts A community foundation is in my view the perfect on the local nonprofit landscape. organization. Why? It is an organization that identifies The development of the community needs within the community and addresses those needs foundations movement implies the through engaging the respective community. I could not development of the entire local imagine a more powerful sustainability; I could not imagine nonprofit landscape. In the more efficiency, than that of an organization that involves Romanian CFs Movement we are the community in finding solutions for its own problems. currently articulating a complementary vision and action Nicu Scoruș, plan, based on partnership values ARC consultant that include the 12 registered Community Foundations, the Romanian Federation of Community Foundations, the CF [A community foundation] has the ability to find the most National program, led by ARC, dedicated people in the community, who believe that time donors and partners. has come to contribute to community dreams, besides private dreams. Simona Șerban, Executive Director, Cluj Community Foundation, Laszlo Potozki, Founder and Board Member , Romanian Executive Director, Environmental Partnership Foundation, Program Partner Federation of Community Foundations
5 Community Foundations
6 Youth Led Funds for an Active Community
www.fundatiacomunitaraalba.ro
9 grants awarded in the community
Total grants value: $4,318
Alba Community Foundation continued to support in 2012 the projects of high school students during the third edition of the Alba Youth Bank program. It funded nine projects worth $4,318. These were initiated by 33 youngsters from Alba Iulia and covered various areas: entrepreneurship, youth professional counseling,, culture, social, and tourist guidance.
The funds raised by high school students from the YouthBank team are granted to other youngsters Moreover, in December, YouthBank Alba “Youth Bank: I would first relate it with studying in Alba Iulia within a was designated the education opportunity, as it helps you look widely, project competition. The youngsters volunteering program of the year, during beyond yourself and your own world; it enjoyed personal satisfaction and the Alba Volunteering Gala. At the same helps you develop as an individual and also the acknowledgement of the others time, three youngsters involved in the inside the community to which you belong. for their community projects. program won the first prize in the YouthBank encourages youngsters to following three sections of the event: The contribute to change, but also to be more Dorin Sava Volunteer of the Year in Education; The aware in what concerns life and money; it Executive Director, Alba Community Foundation Junior volunteer of the Year; The believes in the ability of each high school Volunteers' Coordinator of the Year. student to change something in his community. ”
Carmina Jibetean Team member, YouthBank Alba
7 For the citizens of Bucharest and the city they live in
www.fundatiacomunitarabucuresti.ro
13 grants offered in the community
Total grants value: $14,658
The “Recipe” of Community Involvement What exactly joins up a newlywed couple, a six-year-old little girl, an entrepreneur and a group of friends who dine together? The answer was discovered by Bucharest Community Foundation during its first year of activity. It is the desire to transform a heterogeneous, mixed city, into your home, to contribute directly to change and to support the others.
It was a quick decision, at least when The Wedding Gift: Pay It Forward encouraging a group of volunteers to it came to Oliver. We were together in regularly visit elderly people at their An atypical fund was established at the homes. the city and I was telling him that I initiative of the young couple Cristina and would like to travel to Asia and do Oliver Auerbach, who married at the end Alexandra's Birthday. And the Fund volunteering at the same time. I of July 2012. The two of them decided to always wanted to do this, I knew a lot use the money they received from friends The Alexandra Fund was established in of people do it and I found it and relatives as a capital for their new 2012 in the Bucharest Community interesting. He said “OK, but I would family life to make others happy, thus Foundation. At her six-year anniversary, miss you. Can't we find a way they established a fund of over $11,600, she asked her friends to make a donation through which you could still do managed by Bucharest Community for a community project, instead of something for the others, but to stay Foundation. Following a process of bringing her presents. This way, she was in Romania?” This is how Oliver first philanthropic counseling the couple able to raise approximately $865, an brought into discussion the idea of decided to support projects so that the amount that was directed towards the donating the wedding money, and I elderly people in Bucharest could have a Alternative Education Club from Ferentari found it a really good idea. more active life. They chose The Princess neighborhood, encouraging children Margarita of Romania Foundation and from the area to discover and develop Cristina Auerbach, funded a part of their activities for almost their talents. Donor, Bucharest Community Foundation one year: a Christmas dinner, daytime From the Alexandra Fund, the Bucharest trips in Bucharest and in the country or Community Foundation has funded a
8 children's party in the most Another named fund – this time the Doc passionate with cooking to prepare a disadvantaged neighborhood from the Comm Fund – was set up in the Bucharest dinner for groups of 30 individuals. capital, and it has also supported the Community Foundation by the owner of acquisition of teaching materials for the homonymous advertising agency, who them. Alexandra has also attended the aimed to launch a free dog What does the Dinner “recipe” say? event together with her family and spay/ neuter program for the pets from her neighborhood, with the purpose to - Somebody takes on the chef role and friends, because all children are alike no prepares a dinner for 30 guests from his matter where they live. prevent the abandonment of puppies. The fund was built through successive community; donations made by the company, while - The Bucharest Community Foundation Community Entrepreneurship the project implementation was managed provides the location and the ingredients; by the Red Panda Association. At the end The Bucharest Community Foundation of the campaign, 150 dogs were spayed/ - Guests pay their dinner participation portfolio comprises also a fund with an neutered. ($29/individual) and the money are entrepreneurial destination. This is the directed towards a fund from which Dragoș Nicolaescu Fund, from which the Through this project, I saw how simple it is to community projects are to be supported, Foundation will award grants comprised tackle a problem that is important to me and through the Bucureşti.exe Program; between $865 and $2,000 to the teams to do something real for my neighborhood. that propose start-up projects that are What made me happy was that my donation - The raised funds contribute to financially sustainable and produce an attracted two other organizations, who supporting a community project; impact on the local community. contributed to the campaign, thus tripling the - Guests are invited to vote projects and resources allocated to the project. And not to get involved as volunteers in their least, I was also happy to see that many of my implementation; neighbors discovered that it is important to have their pets sterilized. I am aware that I did The Bucharest Community Foundation not solve the issue of stray dogs, but I am approached and invited to get involved satisfied that I did something that had a real public figures, bloggers, companies, and impact in my community. advertising agencies. The dinner became thus the teambuilding event of UPC, of Ioana Gherasim, Graffiti PR, a meeting with partners for Donor, Bucharest Community Foundation UPC, a get together of the Erudio My name is Alexandra. I am lucky to “Guess who is coming to diner” is the leadership program graduates or another be living in a country with no wars, to initiative through which the Bucharest opportunity for Băcănia Veche to meet its have a beautiful family, with no Community Foundation invited during 10 customers. Moreover, a popular actress, concerns for tomorrow. Until recently, weeks from the 2012 summer 10 individuals Nuami Dinescu, attended one of these I thought all children live the way I events. live. I have actually learned that there are children who do not have enough It was awesome to be able to do all food, who do not go to school these things at once, in just one day. because they need to work and And I have to be honest and admit sometimes are not even visited by that it felt so good to do it – to give a Santa! And from this year on I hand with cooking and move further decided not to forget about to my profession and my passion. I disadvantaged children when my did it wholeheartedly and with love, parents organise family events. for the community that will use the funds raised . Alexandra, 6 years old, Bucharest Community Foundation donor Nuami Dinescu, Actress
9 For Five Years for Cluj
www.fundatiacomunitaracluj.ro
36 grants awarded in the community
Total grants value: $40,622
65 scholarships awarded in the community
Total scholarships value: $28,862
I've been close to the Cluj 200 swimmers entered the 2012 Cluj Community Foundation since the Swimathon race and swam together 2.444 very beginning of the organization. pool lengths, which is the equivalent of And I am talking about the over 122 kilometers. They had thus an moments of testing and piloting. input to raising a total of $29,000 for 19 Those were years during which I projects, which covered various areas – discovered enthusiasm and energy education, youth, health and special in Cluj, valued at CCF and daily therapies, environment protection, animal transformed into quantifiable protection, entrepreneurship, professional resources. These comprise named counseling. The event dedicated to funds and campaigns through In 2012, Cluj Community Foundation community causes fundraising attracted which we activate hundreds of reached the 1 million lei ($290,000) approximately 1.000 participants in only donors, as well as funded projects milestone of grants and scholarships one day – swimmers, friends, supporters and scholarships. I am now talking awarded in the community. This was the and the general public. about the initiatives we supported Foundation's fourth year, which proved the and – going further with this – potential of community foundations and Companies, entrepreneurs, and donors about changed destinies… their positive impact they have on local approach us directly, they trust our experience in philanthropy and they ask for our support in communities. The Foundation also discovering the most suitable mechanisms Ioana Căprar, provided access to the members of the President of Board of Directors, Cluj Community that can contribute to community change. community to dynamic fundraising Foundation And in this entire energy and resource flow, the platforms, designed to support various amount of the total funding we granted in the causes. It also supported innovative community reached the 1 million lei milestone. projects – starting with those that bring This is our first million and we hope it is only technology in schools, continuing with the first from a long series. youth entrepreneurial initiatives or with sports practiced by disabled youth, who Simona Șerban, had thus the opportunity to attend profile Executive Director, Cluj Community Foundation competitions.
10 In 2012 Cluj Community Foundation also Youth, Scholarships and Sports performance. In turn, with the financial brought technology in schools, through support of the Foundation, the pupils of the second edition of the funding program The Cluj Community Foundation the Cluj Visually Impaired High School are “Collegium. Excellence in Education”. It has implemented in 2012 the sixth edition of practicing torbal, which is a sport that thus developed a new approach, through the YouthBank Cluj program, through stimulates their space orientation skills. which it first identified needs in schools which it funded with over $5,500 eight And the Active Tourism and high schools, after which it selected projects that were proposed by high students who came with technical school students in various areas – culture, By supporting the projects that solutions for tackling those issues. The social, entrepreneurship, education and were proposed by the Lamont educational institutions were offered sports. grants valuing $4,300/project, while Centre and by the Visual Impaired Cluj Community Foundation Scholarship High School, we have the students and students' teams received Program has reached its third edition in scholarships, of $1,300/project. opportunity stimulate the 2012, targeting mainly Cluj high school development of specific sports students who were recently accepted to areas and to support young The Funded Projects high school. The Foundation supported sportsmen who are usually - “Online Class book” – an 65 students in 2012; the total scholarship neglected when performance is at application that manages the value reached the amount of $28,862. stake. Moreover, we are happy to be educational trajectory of students; able to support innovative sports - “Internal wireless system. The XXIst I invested the most of the scholarship I and their practice by youth – for century teacher” – a platform that obtained from the Cluj Community instance, escalade. facilitates the evaluation of Foundation in my study of Biology; I bought students in a modern, interactive books on Cytology and Genetics. Those Mariana Sălăgean, environment; helped me meet the standards of a Cluj Community Foundation Grants - “Special Schools Interactive reputable high school, through which I Manager Platform” – Inclusive Education discovered a strong passion for this branch School Centre – a suitable working of Biology, which gradually gets close to Association was granted funding for space for the teachers and students Medicine. creating a space where youth aged less of the 12 special schools and 15 than 18 years could practice escalade. integrative schools in the Cluj Scholarship recipient, Cluj Community From the same fund, the Foundation district; Foundation awarded scholarships to three swimmers “The Robotics Optional Course” – from the Romanian Paralympics Team and students discover Mathematics with Cluj Community Foundation funded three to two athletes from the Cluj Sports High the help of eight Lego Mindstorm sports projects and offered scholarships NXT 2.0 and of 30 tutorials, which School. to five youngsters active in sports with a During the pilot-edition of the Youth show them how they can put into total amount of $3,863, from the “U for practice a set of theoretical notions Social Entrepreneurship Program, which Cluj” Fund. This was consolidated through also unfolded in 2012, and was supported a limited edition t-shirts online auction, from the Ursus Fund, Cluj Community which took place online at the end of Foundation funded three social business 2011, on www.upentrucluj.ro. Thus, with initiatives, directing $1,240 towards each the support offered from the “U for Cluj” of these: a student dental practice, an Fund, the Lamont Centre implements a organizational development project project through which a team of six designed to support a youth organization swimmers with disabilities is trained. This and another project, which entailed the way they take part in a framework that launching of a media production house motivates them to achieve that promoted young artists.
11 Creative Mechanisms. Bicycle, Card or Coupon
www.hka.ro
Grants awarded in the community: 62
Total grants value: $18,600
Scholarships awarded in the community: 8
Total scholarships value: $10,971
Urban regeneration projects: 14
Total projects value: $7,347
In 2012, the Covasna Community Foundation has activated the inhabitants from the region through creative community involvement mechanisms; these offered them the opportunity to support specific community causes from their daily shopping routine or by The average number of community Good Cause” fundraising action, practicing sports. card users was comprised between dedicated to young sportsmen from the 17.000 users of the Community Card from 8.000 and 12.000 per month in 2012, community, also aiming to promote the Community Card and the use of bicycle. Sfântu Gheorghe, Baraolt and Covasna while the average amount redirected contributed to raising approximately towards the Fund was of $0.29/use. $43,250. Developed locally starting from Actors Involved in “Cycling for a the experience Odorheiu Secuiesc The Foundation also launched a Coupon Good Cause” Community Foundation, the mechanism that offers discounts to the services of entails the use of a shopping card in the local companies. This also supports local - The nominee or the sportsman for partner shops, through which the businesses, contributing to community whom funds are being raised customer receives a 1% discount for the development. There are 14 coupons - The cyclist*, who represents the bought products. In turn, the partner shop composing a package. It costs $4.3 and it nominee doubles this value, contributing to the covers discounts for food, sports - The sponsor, who supports the Community Fund with another 1% from equipment, trainings and exams, craft nominee, naming one or more the value of the receipt. products or photo services. cyclists, according to their evolution
In 2012, Covasna Community Foundation *The cyclist is also a donor launched the “Cycling for a
12 In 2012, Covasna Community Foundation continued the “Be Active for Covasna” Program, through which it is to support projects and development programs that are useful to the local community, have an innovative character, efficiently involve inhabitants and activate volunteers. The value of the fund was of $5,800 and the value of the grants was comprised between $430 and $720/project. The Foundation was thus able to support 10 initiatives.
I am convinced that personal well- being cannot exist without the well- being of the entire community. A person can have a happy and fulfilled life only if s/he lives in a prosperous community.
Kinga Bereczki, Executive Director, Covasna Community Foundation
What I like about this foundation is that our activity produces a visible impact in the community. The Foundation also launched the funding program “More than One Spot on Zsombor Tulit, Board Member, Covasna Community the Map”, for supporting thematic trips in Foundation the Covasna district. The value of the fund amounted to $7,785; 1.056 students and 56 teachers from 16 educational units from four towns were the beneficiaries of 28 trips that took place in 2012.
71 registered cyclists 2.000 km cycled in 4 hours $3,023 raised from donations
13 Making Waves for Community
www.fundatiacomunitaraiasi.ro
21 grants awarded in the community
Grants value: $11,166
16 scholarships awarded in the community Scholarships value: $8,304
Iaşi Swimathon, IQ (Iași) Club and “Your Ideas Change Iași” are amongst the successful initiatives of Iași Community Foundation. And they are just some of the directions proving that the Foundation has energetically started its first year of activity, activating individuals and the entire city.
The Foundation launched in 2012 also the sections. At the same time, the Excellence in Education and Under IQ (Iași) initiative, through which it aimed Foundation will also facilitate the access Water Success to stimulate the achievement of excellent of students to various databases of the results in education. And it organized in most renowned universities in the world. Iași Community Foundation organized November the IQ (Iași) event, attended by the first edition of the Iași Swimathon in entrepreneurs, and also by public When the pen keeps sliding on the paper 2012, attended by 103 swimmers. The administration and media and the hour hands move on the clock face, participants had their supporters involved representatives. Thus, over 100 when entire months of efforts and and invited them to make donations for participants contributed to the perseverance focus on ideas and solutions, 12 causes; they swam together 856 pool mobilization of $6,568. In this manner, the the Olympiad makes room to a self- lengths – the equivalent of 43 kilometers. Foundation established the IQ (Iași) Club, improvement desire. The competition idea They were thus able to raise $14,091 from which is a performance-stimulating just fades when there is only you and the over 550 supporters. The projects centre, with a modern infrastructure, that exam paper, with the only objective of being registered at the Iaşi Swimathon cover aims to facilitate the access of students to better than yourself, better than yesterday. areas such as civc involvement, social additional education resources. The services access or public health. initiative is also supported by Iaşi Laura Ștreangă, Cărtureşti Bookshop, which will provide International students competition participant the newest materials from their study
14 Moreover, besides international students competition participation, the Foundation also supports performance amongst gymnasium students. In 2012 it has established the Scholarship Fund, designed to support students who have good results at various disciplines. Coffee and a Vivid City Accordingly, it selected 11 students, who are to be granted a monthly funding of $43 during the 2012/2013 school year. In August 2012, the Foundation also launched the Urban Revitalization I have been acquainted with the Program, through which it invited citizens, Community Foundation from its idea stage. organizations and initiative groups to And from the beginning I found it one of the come up with proposals for the creative best ideas for Iaşi. I wish them to keep renewal of public spots. The funding value growing and to change things for the better. was of $1,300/project.
Irina Şubredu In 2012, Iaşi Community Foundation Donor, Iași Community Foundation organized five editions of the Public Coffees, events which bring together The amounts were raised from corporate individuals who are interested to support and individual donors, but also during the community projects through dialogue 2012 edition of the Swimathon and the and donations. Healthy diets, socio- 2012 “Out of love for Iași” Gala. cultural projects and business opportunities are included amongst the topics brought into discussion. Supported projects
Parents' Workshop and the Colourful Stairs – a new street infrastructure will be arranged in the area of the Psychology Faculty, Although I've been living in Iaşi for almost by cleaning and painting the stairs, three years, it was only last year that I felt the benches and the walls, and also there was a change. And that came from the by separating green spots from the Iaşi Community Foundation, through its traffic zone projects that have an impact on the entire community. I strongly feel that the Foundation is the current engine of the Iaşi Urban Crew and the Graffiti Hall community. – the hall from the Unirii Square and the Republica Cinema area is Nicu Enache reconditioned, through lights, walls Swimmer, Iași Swimathon painted in a modern fashion, including special walls for street artists.
15 On bike, in the water, for the community
www.fcmures.org
Grants awarded in the community – 21
Total grants value – $6,405
Urban regeneration projects – 2
Total projects value – $13,355
The Mureș Community Foundation organized in 2012 the second edition of the fundraising event Swimathon.ms. With this occasion, 11 teams that comprised 55 participants swam for community projects. These raised around $2,353 from 101 supporters, of which over $700 was raised cash, during the event. The swimmers cumulated 596 pool lengths, which is the equivalent of over 30 kilometres. Amongst them, there was also a senior competitor, aged 81, and there were also two disabled children who took that had a specific social on swimmers role. entrepreneurship dimension, which aim to produce a long-term impact in the The Foundation also invited inhabitants community and have a financial The first project we want to develop to get on their bicycles through the social sustainability potential. with the Reghin Fund is the Urban responsibility program “HEINEKEN for Laboratory Edu+. We are now trying Communities” and to recommend The youngsters also launched the to identify very talented youth that locations for establishing special bike Community Coupons, which offer win international contests but with parking lots. The program MureșOnBike discounts for products and services, time we plan to discover other aimed to set up 300 spots and it amounting to 25%. The cost of coupons unknown talents, giving them a encouraged also the contribution of set is $5.7, and the total raised from their chance to grow. inhabitants: with time, volunteer work sale is directed towards the YouthBank and donations. Mureș Fund. Ștefan Molnar Member of the initiative group, Reghin In 2012, managed by the Mureș The Reghin Community Fund was Community Fund Community Foundation, the YouthBank established in 2012, with the desire to Mureș team launched the first edition of stimulate the philanthropic spirit in the the call of proposals, dedicated to the region, contributing to a better coverage initiatives put forward by high school of the district by the Foundation. students. The call targeted the projects
16 Fundatia Comunitara Handy Solutions din Odorheiu Secuiesc and Active Inhabitants
www.szka.org
Grants awarded in the community – 40
Total grants value –$62,739
Urban regeneration projects – 3
Total projects value – $1,336 Balint Elod Erdely Foto:
Community cards, online polls, activated rural communities, the urban volunteering and… apple juice. The Odorheiu Secuiesc Community Foundation had a full year, with community members involved at all levels, starting with online polls for selecting the supported initiatives, continuing with voluntary work, donations and local support for companies that encourage the consumption of local supported to buy materials and products. instruments, to develop efficient Among the projects voted and marketing and PR campaigns, allowing supported They Decide through the them to carry out activities that have an - Promoting floor ball (a version of Community Card impact in the community. indoors hockey), basketball and A successful program is the Community The public selected seven organizations, volleyball amongst pupils Card, launched in 2009, through which the after 4.200 inhabitants expressed their - Supporting the visually impaired in owners of customer cards receive, for each options through a poll. The Community using the computer as a use, a 1% discount from the purchase Card project has been adopted also by communication means. value. This is matched with another 1% the foundation from Covasna and it is from the total due amount by the partners currently developed also by the Mureș - Buying an automated candle of the initiative and directed towards the Community Foundation. making machine for youth with “You Decide” Program. There were 5.500 Down syndrome. card users in 2012, contributing together When you believe in your project idea to raise over $11,000. and when this comes as a natural - Promote traditional Hungarian It has been thus launched the third round solution to a community problem or martial arts – Baranta. of funding of the program, which need, you will certainly find supporters extended its coverage area. This was open for it. to organisations from Odorheiu Secuiesc and from the region, which were Odorheiu Secuiesc Community Foundation Beneficiary
17 The Unitarian Community Fund Together with Harvest Hope Foundation, the Foundation launched a call of proposals amongst the Unitarian communities from Transylvania. It has thus supported 15 projects from rural communities with a total of $42,673. Voluntary work, the mobilization of local resources and the sustainability of the initiatives were considered in the selection of the supported projects. Accordingly, a total of $26,526 was raised within the funded projects, including voluntary work and financial resources. The number of volunteers who got involved amounted to 388.
submitted by the members of the community were presented within a public event. This took place in the city centre and was followed by an online poll. The winning idea was proposed by the Odorheiu Secuiesc Creative Club, which gathered 321 votes. At the same time, also as a part of the Urban Kalaka initiative, approximately 70 volunteers from the city worked at the establishment of a sports field. The youngest volunteer was 3 years old, while the oldest was 74. Under the “Have a glass of apple juice for In October, Odorheiu Secuiesc Urban Volunteering and the Apple Odorhei” and in partnership with Community Foundation hosted an Juice Székelygyümölcs Association, the international fundraising workshop. Foundation launched a campaign Representatives of community The Foundation launched in 2012 a new through which it stimulated the foundations from Bulgaria, Czech call of proposals in the Urban consumption of local products. The Republic, Poland and Romania Volunteering (Kalaka) Program, which is object of the campaign was the natural attended the workshop. developed around the concept of apple juice, prepared by hundreds of community mutual support work, farmers from the Odorheiu Secuiesc reactivated by the organisation in 2008. region. In this manner, a community fund The call aimed to support the establishing was established, from which the of a park, funded with over $5,760, Foundation will be able to support rural offered by Raiffeisen Bank, while the plans projects from the area.
18 Sibiu! Off to a Running Start
www.fundatiacomunitarasibiu.ro
Grants awarded in the community: 5
Grants value: $5,410
Officially established in 2012, Sibiu What I found extraordinary and Community Foundation aims to transform the city into a place where what makes me happy is that an inhabitants, entrepreneurs and local innovation and a completely new authorities work together to create a event for the city, a new concept strong and responsible community. The of running for a cause was role of the Foundation is to support and adopted with such an ease and facilitate the social change process, to enthusiasm. To me, this is the support community initiatives and to Moreover, in the fall of 2012, the Sibiu proof that such events are needed. cultivate the philanthropic spirit. Community Foundation began to locally People want to get involved and The Foundation started with the 2012 manage the Sibiu YouthBank program. they just need a setting. The first youth team comprised 15 high Half marathon, which is a fundraising Anabella Târnovan, sports event, aiming to establish a fund school students, actively involved in Board member, Sibiu Community Foundation for supporting projects proposed by fundraising campaigns. individuals, organisations and initiative groups from Sibiu. During its first edition, The Half marathon Projects 7. Support for abandoned pets. the Sibiu Community Foundation raised $9,919 for 13 community projects. The 1. Support for operations carried out by 8. Access to camps in the Sighișoara number of registered runners amounted mountain rescuers in the Bâlea Lac area. area for children from disadvantaged families. to 173, and the supporters', to over 300. 2. Raising awareness with regards to preventive driving amongst young drivers. 9. Promoting basketball in schools We consider including the Half- together with the players from the CSU Marathon in a calendar and to 3. Support for the Sibiu Emergency Sibiu. have it organized every year. Service, SMURD, with the aim to supply the ambulance with special medical 10. Valuing the cycling potential of the Personally, I hope that this mix is equipment and to hire an extra paramedic. Sibiu district. going to stay, where besides the important aspect of attracting 4. Expanding the network of special 11. Launching a children's publication funds, the massive and direct arranged areas for parking bicycles. on the topic of Sibiu history. involvement of the community 5. Support for Roma children from Roșia 12. Support for Sibiu Children's will play an important role. village. Hospital
Ciprian Ciocan, 6. Raising awareness with regards to drug 13. Support for Sibiu Hematology Ward Vice-president Board of Directors, Sibiu consumption amongst youngsters. Community Foundation
19 Community Foundation Initiative Groups
20 Jumping for the Community
www.fundatiacomunitarabacau.ro model, through which 350 supporters Bacău Community Foundation. More than offered fix or variable amounts for two thirds of the amount comes from Bacău Community Foundation emerged competitors' water jumps, who brought local companies, and approximately one as the expression in reality of a dream to various causes in the event, covering third, from individuals who believe in the have a Bacău community aware of its areas such like elderly, social or health. community foundations mechanism. needs and engaged, to build a The program became thus a general platform where local initiative groups We broke the ice, we are now known in the sustainable future, together with the community, people understand much more community leaders. propose causes that can be supported by the Bacău Community Foundation. what we stand for. Developed during 2012, the Initiative Mihai Căprioară, Group for the establishment of the Bacău Later on, the initiative group continued to Founding Member, Bacău Community Community Foundation set the basis of raise locally the remaining amount in the future foundation through the “Jump order to reach the $10,812 threshold, for the Community” event, raising $5,530. which represented half of the patrimony This was designed after the Swimathon necessary for establishing the future A Beginning: For Youth and Innovation
www.fundatiacomunitaraoradea.ro The initiative group organized in May the group started to implement locally one of 11even Oradea event, which is a part of the best non-formal education initiatives series of manifestations taking place in in the country – YouthBank Oradea. In 2012 the basis of the future Oradea the entire country. Conceived as a Community Foundation was also set, as personal development space, it gathers Launching the Oradea Community the initiative group launched its first individuals who went through Foundation was an experience per se, which programs and got involved in initiatives extraordinary experiences, through involved both pleasant and difficult dedicated to the community. challenges and failures that are worth to moments. It can be difficult to persuade be shared. someone to support a foundation that does I have read about other similar initiatives in not exist yet. After exactly 12 months, Romania and I found the idea [of In September 2012, the initiative group together with our colleagues and with the community foundation] to be fantastic, attended the Oradea Half marathon help of the Association for Community absolutely necessarily to be also Running Day, under the slogan “We Run Relations, we made it… I am very proud of implemented in Oradea! for Community”. In this framework, the us. runners who represented the group Radu Silaghi, Sorin Constantin, Supporter, Oradea Community Foundation raised funds for four community Founding Member, Oradea Community Foundation initiatives from different areas – social, house rehabilitation and professional counseling. And in October 2012, the
21 Chapeau for the Community!
fundatiacomunitaraprahova.ro Prahova Teachers' House, the group aims brought together approximately 80 to support 10 youngsters from managers, entrepreneurs, opinion leaders, disadvantaged environments, aged artists and volunteers in June 2012. They Prahova Community Foundation has the between 7 and 18. With this support, they got involved in an unbuyable-objects' explicit mission to increase the life quality of will be able to make a valuable use of auction, through which they could own the inhabitants from the area by their talents in their performance areas – for one day a personal chef, a personal transparently raising and awarding arts, sports or sciences. trainer and a luxury car with no kilometres resources, supporting local development limit. The total amount raised through this initiatives launched by non-profit Prahova Community Foundation event amounted to $1,594. organisations. recognizes the talent, passion, effort and determination and considers that talented The Initiative Group also organized in Prahova Community Foundation Initiative young people with excellent results are an 2012 the philanthropic event “VIS Party – Group important value for Prahova and they Volunteering. Involvement. Sustainability”. Launched in 2012, the initiative group for should be promoted as examples to follow. This reunited the members of 27 of the most talented artists groups from the the establishing of the Prahova Isabela Mihăilă, Community Foundation has built the Founding Member, Prahova Community Foundation district. At the end of the event, the VIS “Adopt a Value” Scholarship Fund, CJE Fund was established, from which the The Fund was created after the “Chapeau designed to support talented children initiatives of high schools will be for the Community, Mon Cher”, which from the district. Together with the supported. Nurturing Local Community Spirit and Initiative!
www.fundatiactf.ro The Initiative Group aiming to establish the Țara Făgărașului Community Foundation met for the first time in Țara Făgărașului Community Foundation November 2012. has the mission to increase the quality of life in the region through understanding and The community foundation aims primarily engaging the community. to contribute to the revitalization of the local civil society. Initiative Group, Țara Făgărașului Community Foundation Daniela Elena Graură, Initiative Group, Țara Făgărașului Community Foundation
22 General Information about the National Community Foundation Program
2018: Vision 2012/2013: Aims 2010-2012: Key-results
Until 2018, the Romanian Community Original aims for phase two of the The community foundations from Cluj and Foundation Movement will increase to 15 program (2009-2012) included: Odorheiu Secuiesc continued to develop, foundations, generating and supporting covering the following areas through the initiatives in the areas it covers. These will Support the strengthening of successful funding they offered: education, youth become philanthropy active centres, existing community foundations; involvement, social entrepreneurship, supporting the involvement of private social inclusion and volunteers' Support the development of 4-6 new donors; they will respond to local needs involvement in the rehabilitation of community foundations; and opportunities, having plentiful community spaces. resources to grow as actors with an Support the development of an active In 2010 two community foundations were important input to local development. national movement that brings together created in Alba and Covasna, and a resources and vision of community 2006-2012: History and stages regional fund was established for Cristuru foundations, national opinion leaders, Secuiesc, managed by the Covasna support partners and donors. Up to present, the Program covered two Community Foundation. Other two community foundations were stages. The pilot stage, unfolding Expansion based on success and local established in 2011, covering the Bucharest between 2006 and 2009, entailed a interest and Mureș regions, while in Constanța a proactive approach for testing the community fund was consolidated. interest of Transylvanian communities to Based on the success of the program in the 2010-2011 phase and a strong build local funding institutions, using The community foundations from Iaşi and emerging interest from local locally available resources. At the end of Sibiu were launched in 2012, and communities, we decided to extend the this stage, two community foundations promising community foundations program frame by mid 2013, with the aim were created, through the initiatives from initiatives developed in Bacău, Oradea, to reach 8-9 new community foundations Cluj and Odorheiu Secuiesc. After this Prahova and Țara Făgărașului. stage, starting from the success of the by mid 2013. created community foundations, we In the period 2010-2012, the community developed a program vision for the next foundations involved in the Program ten years and a strategy for the next four. offered 400 grants, 192 scholarships and The second phase unfolded thus between directly supported 40 community based 2009 and 2012, when we aimed to projects with materials, equipment and consolidate the already existent support for volunteers taking action. community foundations and to support the setting up of four-up to six new During 2010-2012, community foundations community foundations. Two next stages direct support $536,615, out of which of the program are planned for 2013-2015 $365,824 for grants, $120,924 for and 2015-2018 intervals. In 2018, we plan scholarships and $49,865 for community to end the program proactive phase, based projects. continuing to respond to needs, During 2010-2012, community foundations opportunities and leadership emerging raised $209,399 from Romanian individuals from the community foundations and $361,742 from companies. movement.
23 2009-2012: Support actions community foundations organized in Community Foundation supported the Bucharest, under the title “Envisioning campaigns of the initiative group from Between 2009 and 2010 we focused on and Shaping the Future: With the Cristuru Secuiesc, while Mureș Community developing a specific framework for the Community, for the Community”. A new Foundation supported the development of functioning of community foundations in call for initiative groups was launched at the initiative group in Reghin. Romania. We opened a dialogue with the the end of 2011. existing community foundations, with the The program offered, through Romanian partners and supporters of the Program In 2012, the main focus of the program Environmental Partnership Foundation, a with regards to the principles and was supporting new initiative groups to start-up financial support of around standards of community foundations. learn about the community foundation $10,000 to match the locally raised These aimed to provide a shared national concept, plan and implement local action. resources for the initial patrimony of the framework for stimulating 7 new community foundation initiative new community foundations. Also, new professionalism, transparency and the groups were supported in this phase, out community foundations had access to a comparability of community foundations of which 5 registered a community general purpose grant for the first two on a national level. foundation at the end of 2012 or in the years of activity, which varied between first part of 2013. These include Sibiu $30,000 and $50,000 depending on the In 2010 we nationally promoted (registered in 2012) and Bacău, Oradea, moment of registration. More established community foundations and the support Prahova, Țara Făgărașului (registered in community foundations received program granted through the Program, inviting 2013). financial support to build a reserve fund local initiatives to join us. Accordingly, ten and share their expertise. initiatives were selected; these were During 2012, we continued to invest in provided access to consultancy services community foundations capacity Within the Program, we regularly collect and a national introductory seminar, (knowledge, innovation and sharing) to information about the progress of while the most advanced of them help generate and raise local resources community foundations and we make it attended a study visit in UK. Moreover, through sustainabile community available to the public and to the national the initiative groups that raised locally involvement mechanisms and supporters of the foundations. half of the launching patrimony were philanthropic counselling. A second granted the remaining amount through community foundations conference with The Program Budget the theme “Leadership for local the Program and could register legally as The expenditures budget of the Program in community foundations. communities” was organized in Cluj Napoca at the beginning of October. Also, 2012 was $382,775. Out of this, $167,811 We supported the operational capacity we have prepared for a program were grants disbursed to community building of initiative groups also in 2011, evaluation and strategy planning process foundations. 2012 program costs were providing them information and technical to be carried in the beginning of 2013 audited by KPMG. assistance. At the same time, we and renewed a partnership framework KPMG carried out a financial audit of the facilitated the connexion within the with the Romanian-American Foundation Program from June 1st, 2009 to May 31st, Community Foundations Movement, (RAF). RAF Challenge Fund will support 2013. which allowed exchange experiences the community foundations to raise between foundations. resources from individuals in the period ARC is in charge with managing the 2013-2015. general administration budget of the During 2011, we organized three Program by the Partners and with the cost meetings of the Community Foundations ARC offered legal and financial support to covering of national meetings, seminars, Network and of the initiative groups, the fundraising campaigns that were study visits, conferences, national during which we drafted the foundations' carried out previously to the legal communication and evaluation sessions. operating principles and standards. With establishment of the foundations from The grantmaking budget is managed by this occasion, we agreed upon the Alba, Iași, Mureș, Oradea, Sibiu and Țara the The Romanian Environmental development priorities of the Community Făgărașului; PACT Foundation supported Partnership Foundation. Foundations Movement. April 2011, was those from Bucharest, Constanța and also the moment of the first conference of Prahova; the Odorheiu Secuiesc
24 The Program Initiator Partners of the Supporters of the and Coordinator Program Program
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation is a supporter of community foundation at a ARC contributes to the efficient global level, having an expertise in mobilization of private resources for Romanian Environmental Partnership supporting the development of public interest causes. With this purpose, it Foundation has awarded over 450 grants community foundation in various regions develops the capacity of the actors in the last years and had a proactive of the world, respectively in the Central involved in the philanthropic process, approach for building a permanent fund. and Eastern Europe. raising and providing funds. It also creates In the Program, it is the partner for the and develops new entities specially grant making component, supporting the designed to meet this objective, and setting up and consolidation of stimulates the development of a community foundations. At the same philanthropy favorable environment in time, it brings its own expertise in the Romania. In the last 10 years, ARC has matter of local grant making and the establishing of permanent funds. Trust for Civil Society in Central and been supporting nonprofit organizations Eastern Europe has also supported the in raising funds from communities, and development of community foundations companies, to invest in a durable manner. in countries from Central and Eastern Moreover, it creates mechanisms that Europe, such as Bulgaria, Check Republic, stimulate social impact projects and that Slovakia, Slovenia, Poland and Hungary. support the existing ones. ARC is the leader of the National Program; it coordinates the partnership, the awareness and capacity building component as well as the fundraising and PACT Foundation is active in the area of the evaluation parts. ARC shares with the community foundations development, partners and with the communities its particularly in the south of Romania, knowledge from the area of community being accountable in the Program with foundations development, gathered relating with the initiative groups in the Romanian-American Foundation between 2006 and 2009, in the pilot-stage area. PACT also contributes with its endeavours to support the private sector of the Program and supports community personal community development in Romania. It offers grants for education, foundations to share their knowledge. experience. entrepreneurship and community Also, it brings its own experience in development programs. programs that develop the fundraising capacity of nonprofit organizations, community involvement programs, The Consultative Council of the Community Foundations Program supports with free expertise the designed for companies and programs to activity of the Program and the development of community foundations. Its members are: stimulate individual philanthropy, through Andreea Roșca, communication consultant, Dan Pascariu, president of UniCredit Țiriac Bank, Marius Ghenea, entrepreneur and business angel, Peter Barta, Post Privatizare Foundation director and donor circles and philanthropic Gabriel Biriș, partner of Biriș-Goran. counseling.
25 A program initiated by In partnership with With the financial support of
And participation of the community foundations
www.fundatiicomunitare.ro Cover photos: Adrian Crapciu Cover photos: